Brazil’s Former President Jair Bolsonaro Faces House Arrest Amid Coup Allegations
Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s former president, has been placed under house arrest while he stands trial for allegedly conspiring to stage a coup. On Monday, the Supreme Court of Brazil mandated that Bolsonaro remain at his residence and ordered the police to confiscate all mobile devices within his property. This ruling follows Bolsonaro’s violation of legal restrictions prohibiting his use of social media.
Prosecutors have accused the right-wing politician of leading a criminal organization aimed at overturning the results of the 2022 election and of plotting to harm President Lula and a Supreme Court justice. Additionally, he is alleged to have encouraged former President Donald Trump to intervene in his ongoing legal situation through social media.
Strict New Restrictions Imposed
Under the recent court ruling, any visitors authorized to meet with Bolsonaro will not be permitted to record their interactions or post on his behalf. This decision comes in response to an incident on Sunday when the 70-year-old utilized his sons’ social media accounts to address supporters during a rally in Rio de Janeiro. Through his son’s phone, he greeted the crowd, stating, "Good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom."
The judge noted in the ruling that "the flagrant disrespect to the precautionary measures was so obvious" that Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, his son, decided to delete the post from his Instagram account to conceal the legal infraction.
Legal Challenges Ahead
Bolsonaro’s legal team has announced plans to appeal the new restrictions, asserting that his statements should not be interpreted as a violation of precautionary measures or as a criminal offense. Flavio Bolsonaro took to social media to express his outrage, claiming that Brazil is now "officially in a dictatorship" and denouncing what he perceives as relentless persecution against his father.
In a separate context, former President Trump has characterized Bolsonaro’s trial as a "witch hunt," using it as a rationale to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods.
Public Demonstrations and Political Turmoil
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the trial, has also faced sanctions from the United States for allegedly suppressing freedom of expression. On Sunday, tens of thousands of Bolsonaro’s supporters rallied in the streets, calling for a pardon for the former president and others involved in the January 8, 2023, attack on government buildings in Brasilia.
This incident, which occurred just a week after Lula’s inauguration, saw Bolsonaro’s supporters storming key government sites in an effort to undermine the democratic process and demand military intervention against Lula’s presidency.
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